The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-08
IMPRISONED IN CUBA.
PART I.
THE MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE.


IN its meshes, it is generally due to accident, or
The Vaccinations of some "land-shark - or per-
haps, in dealing with unprincipled people
along shore" the sailor may be unwittingly
caught In the net spread to ensnare him.
Although the mariner may be a yeritable
giant when upon the broad, trackless ocean, he
Is mere child if placed among men who have
received their training upon terra firma; and
the simplicity of the sailor is often the cause
of his being arraigned before the bar of
Justice.
1t is very seldom that one will find seaman
deliberately committing a deed which will Law
himself liable to arrest, and when such case
is met with it will almost invariably be found
that the act was done to assist a friend or
shield comrade from the consequences of
some misdeed.
A few years ago, shortly after the capture of
Captain Frye and crew of the American steam
or, Virginius, and the subsequent execution of
o part of the same by the Cuban authorities,
became entangled with the Spanish soldiers of
the beautiful tropic isle of Cuba, and my &C
quaintance with them came very near putting
an end to my voyage of life.
was master of a trim little barque sailing
from Boston and engaged in the West India
trade.
One evening while the vessel was lying at
wharf in the latter port where she was receiv-
Eng cargo for Matanzas was sitting upon the
quarter rail enjoying an after-supper smoke,
when / observed a young man of perhaps
twenty-five years of age coming down the
dock very leisurely
AS he got abreast of where I was seated, he
stopped, and with very affable smile, babe
me "good evening"" and then INQUIRED if we
were not bound to the West Indies. Assuring
him that we We're, he stepped aboard, remark
2ng that he belonged in Cuba, and was looking
Tor vessel in which to take passage.
rather liked the appearance of the stranger,
and seeing chance to make a few dollars for
my owners by taking a passenger, as we had
plenty of room in the cabin, offered to take
him, and we soon agreed upon terms; the
stranger promising to give me fifty dollars in
the morning for his passage to the island.
The following day, while slipping coffee in
company with the mate, was surprised to see
our prospective passenger with a small valise
in hand hurrying down the wharf.
There was no one about, as the hour was
quite early.
He stepped quickly on board, and with the
profound politeness peculiar to the Cuban PEG
pie, babe me very good morning" After
partaking of a cup of coffee with us l invited
him below and showed him the room he was to
occupy during the passage.
He was very well satisfied with the accom-
Enodations, and taking out a wel-flled wallet
he paid me the price agreed upon, then and
there.
''This bag" he remarked, indicating the
small satchel in his hand, contains some arti-
cles of value, and [ should be well pleased if
you would take care of it for me until we
reach NIatanZas."
Of course / was perfectly willing to accom-
gnodate him. and took the bag; he then went
ashore, promising to be on board in the even
ing, as we were going to sea the following
morning.
When left alone turned my attention to
che bag which was still in my hand; it was
small and neat, and, judged, quite an expen-
.sive affair.
Turning it over observed an address pain
ted in white letters upon the bottom; it read,
S'Senor Roderiquez Gonzales, Is Plaza di POGO,
Matanza, Cuba"
The Plaza di POGO knew quite well, as I
had been many times to Matanzas, and had
Eoamed considerably about the city.
1t was a pleasant little open square, sur
grounded by the homes of the middle class,
most of whom were natiye-born Cubans.
However, 1 had not much time to spend
with the bag so L threw it into my bunk and
closed and locked the state-room door before
going ashore.
A master of a vessel is always very busy on
the day before sailing, as there is sure to be q
great deal of business to attend to, and my pas
senger never entered my mind but once, and
that was when went to clear" at the custom
house.
1t was quite late when I returned to the YES
sell and on entering my room, the presence of
the bag reminded me of the Cuban, SO calling
Che mate, inquired if the stranger had yet
come aboard.
'No, sir, I've seen nothing Of him." was the
officers reply
In the morning everything was bustling and
active. The crew were aboard and the tow
boat alongside shortly after daylight, but moth
ing had yet been seen of our passenger.
The pilot and the captain of the tug were
anxious to start, but was bound to wait until
the last moment to give the young fellow
chance.
Soon our overtaxed patience was rewarded
A hack dashed down the wharf and drew up
at the vessels side.
1t was not the Cuban who alighted, however,
but telegraph boy waving dispatch in his
hand and calling for Captain Graham, barque
SRambler.'
"Here boy herel" I cried, jumping into the
xnizZen channels to reach the message, which
] quickly tore open and read:
"Captain Graham barque Rambler, Consti-
tuition wharf Boston.
Through unforeseen circumstances it will be
impossible for me TO make the passage with
you. Please deliver the little bag l left to the
address upon it, and retain the money paid
you for your trouble. .. ID. GONZALEZ.
Hastily thrusting the bit of paper into my
pocket called to the pilot, "All right, pilot
let her go"-and in a few moments we were
heading down the harbor, the tow-boat putting
away alongside, while the crew were rapidly
spreading the white canvass to catch the
strong, westerly wind that was to give us
good start upon our voyage; and as may be
supposed there was now no thought of the Gu
ban left behind.
The passage down to the island was without
event and we came to anchor in MatanZas after
a run of eighteen days
We were, of course, boarded by the full force
of Cuban officials, revenue, military and naval,
and after a close scrutiny Of our papers and
rigid search of the barque was allowed to go
ashore to report to the consignees and "enter'
the vessel.
had not thought it necessary TO inform the
customs authorities of the Cuban's trust as l
felt assured that could any time during our
stay in port, deliver it to the address and no
pne would be the wiser.
1t is true that the officers looked at me very
uueerly when 1 explained the absence Of the
passenger whose name was on the manifest,
but as he had not been found on board the yes-
Bel, they were obliged TO accept my story still
I noticed that my movements were more close
ty watched than they had ever before been;
Ehsy even went SO far as to place. beside the